Tag Archives: diabetes

If you have been reading my blog you know that I have a strong relationship with chocolate. Actually, I just read that over 5,900,000,000 people also share in my decadent habit (according to yahoo.com). Thankfully I can happily satisfy my craving, with no guilt, thanks to the medical research because dark chocolate has numerous health benefits being so rich in antioxidants;phytosterols and polyphenols. Avocados the next main ingredient in this recipe is also a ‘super food’, rich in monounsaturated fats, it is filled with anti-inflammatory beneficial fats and anti-oxidants as well. So this delicious dessert is a no brainer and easy to make and as the title says purely decadent!

Anyway, so armed with this little bit of knowledge about the health benefits of chocolate and avocados, I was ready to start experimenting in the kitchen, determined to turn this into the best raw chocolate pudding anyone has ever tried.

Here are a few variations that really work and taste divine. Just remember for optimal palate pleasure serve this chilled, it tastes much better …

with dates and honey….

1 medium avocado (ripe)

1/2 cup dates

2 1/2 tablespoons raw cocoa powder

1/4 cup water + 1/8 cup water

1 1/2 tablespoons organic local honey

1/8 teaspoon celtic sea salt (or less)

1. Throw these raw chocolate avocado pudding ingredients into a high-speed blender. Start blending on slow and then up the blending speed to high.

2. Blend until looks consistent with pudding. If you have a good blender (AKA Vitamix or Blendtec) then you should be able to get this super smooth.You may need to add a tiny bit of extra water to facilitate blending

We have heard that alcohol consumption is good for you, your heart in particular well what about your brain? Sounds like a true oxymoron, alcohol being good for brain function right? I mean we have all witnessed people ‘on’ too much alcohol and so the immediate effects on the brain are apparent, slowed reflexes, slurred speech, decrease inhibition, decrease balance and inability to really focus…But what about long-term?

The Greeks touted “nothing in excess,” a refrain that still rings true: Low to moderate* alcohol consumption has been associated with numerous potential physiologic benefits with neurologic implications, including improved cholesterol profiles, beneficial effects on platelet and clotting function, and improved insulin sensitivity. Last year we reported that limited alcohol use is associated with a lower risk for dementia[ and that moderate alcohol — especially antioxidant-rich red wine — intake may protect against cerebrovascular disease.A new study published in Circulation Research found that dealcoholized Merlot reduced blood pressure by approximately 6/3 mm Hg in a sample of 67 men at high cardiovascular risk, suggesting that the beneficial effects of wine consumption may not strictly be due to its alcohol content.

The Dr in The Kitchen Warning! Beware that the health costs to the brain of alcohol consumption can quickly outweigh the benefits, as heavy and long-term alcohol use can lead to alcohol abuse and dependence, impair memory function, contribute to neurodegenerative disease, and hinder psychosocial functioning

I was at my sweet friend’s house the other night. Names will be modified in this blog post to protect the innocent, but just as a reference, this is the friend who I blogged about over a year ago. She is the one who almost took ten years off my life and that of her whole family by serving black broccoli aka; toxic laden nitrate filled charred cancer producing broccoli.

Anyways we all survived that dinner, but I digress… So I was at her house the other night and we were chatting about health issues and as it turns out her husband, Mr B, had a near death experience because of poor glucose control. Mr B survived, changed his life, changed his diet, lost some weight and now feels great.

So I am thinking wow, what did he do, South Beach, Paleo, Atkins what? How did this man change his diet to lose the weight and feel great?

Well, the conversation, in her kitchen of course, continues and he shares his great weight loss tactics. Every morning, he no longer skips breakfast but on his way to work he stops at McDonald’s and gets a hearty meal of sausage McMuffin and eggs. I stand there in the kitchen mouth agape, not moving or commenting because I am scared of what may come out… And he proudly goes on to say that he does this based on diabetic counselling, at the hospital no less. They clearly told him to eat breakfast and he was told by the diabetic nutritionist that he had to eat at least 30-70 grams of carbs in each meal with some protein. That sausage Mcmuffin with egg I may add, he wanted me to make sure I did not forget to add the protein component aka, the egg, clearly fits the bill of the diabetic requirements.

Still I stand there silently in the kitchen…..ok, smiling to myself because the irony of all of this is killing me…

Mr B, is actually right! And who can argue with a man who has lost weight, never has felt better and finally has his sugar under control?

So I ran home and looked up the nutritional profile of these magical eggs and sausages, here it is in case you were wondering:

Inflammation is now the new buzz word when it comes to your health and if it is not tamed, can cause all sorts of problems for us! What kind of problems? Well inflammation is basically the root cause of many diseases, if you have heart disease or diabetes, you have inflammation. If you have arthritis, you have inflammation. If you feel any pain in your body, bloated, headaches, or are prone to infections then yes, you guessed it, you have inflammation in your body.

So what to do? Well I have blogged about the best antiinflammatory diet in the past. Today I will share the best, the onemost fabulous helpful hint that I have in my kitchen. This recipe can change your inflamed life and bring you back into balance!

Recipe:

1 cup sprouted flax powder

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp turmeric

1 tsp ginger powder

In a spice shaker or well-sealed glass container place the following super potent anti-inflammatory nutrients and sprinkle away your inflammation at every meal. The flax seeds provide beneficial anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids and are also fabulous for maintaining normal cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Also because of their high fiber content they will also ensure regularity.If you grind flax seeds fresh, the oils, once exposed to oxygen, will go rancid quickly. I choose sprouted flax seeds because they are nutritional more bioavailable, beneficial and the oils are preserved better because of the dehydration process.

As for turmeric and ginger, these two herbs are the powerhouses when it comes to calming inflammation in the body. These herbs need to be present in every kitchen! Black pepper is added to the recipe to potentiate the absorption and super health benefits of the turmeric.

So sprinkle away and move towards optimal health, a longer life and much less inflammation!

If you are in the mood for a light, filling, diabetic friendly, rich, creamy luscious healthy snack, say no more, avocado drizzled with balsamic vinegar…the end!

Try this for your afternoon delight;

slice an avocado in half, remove the pit, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Spoon each bite right out of the skin and enjoy! Or, place on a flacker, a piece of fruit or vegetable of your choice, then enjoy!

If you want to eat healthy, you can’t go wrong with this snack; avocados are high in fiber and monounsaturated healthy fats– both of which are super for weight management and have a steadying effect on blood sugar. Avocados are also loaded with potassium, so if you decide to add a littel salt, no worries, these two balance eachother out!

Alison Levitt, MD

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about the doctor in the kitchen

I have always been passionate about eating well and being healthy. I believe that “Good Food is Wise Medicine”. This is why I started Doctor in the Kitchen™; to make super healthy food products for people who want to eat well, feel great and strive for optimal health and vitality.
This blog is my way of sharing what I know with you about natural medicine, herbs and nutrition - hopefully by reading it you can stay optimally healthy and feel fabulous every day of your life.

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